Improvement



' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. i

WILLIAM B. VATKINS, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW' JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT iN FIRE-ALARM TELEGRAPHS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. l l IAIJ, dated January 31, 1871.

CASE B.

To @ZZ whom it may oon/cern.-

Beit known that I, WILLIAM B. WATKINs, of Jersey City, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Automatic Fire-Alarm Telegraph;

and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which make part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1,Sheet No. l, represents a view illustrating my new system of wires leading from one building to another, and connecting with suitable apparatus for operating an automatic tire-alarm telegraph. Fig. 2, Sheet No. 2, represents a side elevation ol' an electro-magnetic tire-alarm signal apparatus, which forms part of my new system of constructing and operating an automatic lire-alarm telegraph. Fig. 3 represents va top view of the same.

The systems of telegraphing the alarms of iire, as heretofore employed, have required physical force to set the alarm in motion, and have only been useful and brought into operation generally when the fire has burst out of the building. The delays incident to such systems not only allow the fire to get headway and destroy the building, but to spread and become disastrous in its consequences.

The object of my invention is to produce a fire-alarm telegraph which shall be operated automatically without physical force, and by means ofthe re itself, at its very commencement, indicate with unerring certainty the street and the number of the building where the fire has commenced to burn atcvery station in a town or city, or at as many points as maybe desired, no matter how lar distant,.and thereby give the alarm long before the fire could be seen from without, and save the destruction of life and property consequent upon delays.

In carrying out this object my invention consists, first, in constructing a telegraph-line of any desired length, having an electric battery, suitable signal and telegraph apparatus, and alarm-bells at different points, in such a manner as to enter as many buildings as may -be desired in a street, orany number of streets,

in the place, and to connect the said line witha in the buildings with suitable apparatus for working the said line automatically by means of the fire itself,1so that the number of the building, or the number of the street and that of the building, or any suitable signal, may be sounded or struck at as many points as may vbe desired within the line, for the purpose of giving the alarm, and at the same moment the exact location of the lire; second, in the construction and employment of an automatic apparatus for the purpose of opening and closing the line in such manner as to strike or sound the desired alarm or signal at the desired points; third, in working automatically, by means of the fire itself, any suitable apparatus for sounding the street and building numbers, or any desired signal for each or both, through such a line as I have described, at different points Within the line.

In the accompanying drawings, Sheet No. l represents my improved system of telegraphlines. This system consists in carrying aline- Wire, A, through one or more streets, and into and out of as many buildings as maybe desired, in suchmanner as to connect such buildings with said line A, as shown in Fig. l of the drawings. This line is connected with a battery located at any convenient point, as shown at B of the same ligure, with which the line- Wire forms a metallic connection between the positive and negative poles of said battery. The line must be supported and insulated in any suitable manner. The buildings being numbered, the purpose of entering the lines therein is to connect them with suitable automatic mechanism which shall open and close the line A in such manner as to sound or strike the number of the building on lire at any place or places Where suitable alarmbells may be located, as shown at C, Fig. l.

The apparatus for opening and closing'the line described maybe located in each building with which the wire is connected', and consists of a brealceircuit composed of a stationary plate and a revolving arm. This break-eircuit may be operated by any suitable motor. A particular description, therefore, of a motor for this purpose is deemed unnecessary, further than to state that the armature Q thereof', as in the example shown in Fig. 2, must possess a continuously-automatic vibrating motion, derived from the electric current, for producing a rotary motion by means of a ratchetwheel and suitable pawls; and it may be provided with an alarm-bell, Q2, and any suitable clapper, Q3, operated by the lever R.

The fiXed plate D oi the break-circuit is mounted upon one of the standards, E, in which are the bearings of the shaft F of the revolving arm G. This plate D is secured to its standard by means of an insulator, a, the central opening in which, being larger than the revolving shaft F, allows the latter to pass through it without touching, as shown in Fig. 4.A The fixed plate D is provided on its circumference or side with non conductors,

. which may consist of insulating material; or

spaces may be cut in the metallic plate, so as to allow the spring c of t-he arm G to pass over them without contact with said plate. These breaks or non-conductors are arranged in a novel manner, in two divisions-thc iirst for indicating the street, which for this purpose is numbered, and the other the number ofthe building from which the alarm emanates. In the drawings the first division represents the number of the street as 13, which is formed by four distinct breaks, 1, 2, 3, and 4, with proper metallic intervals 5 6 7; the interval 5 between the Iirst and second breaks 1 and 2 be- ,ing twice as great as the others-in this manner, 1 5 2 3 4-so that the revolving spring-arm G c, in passing over them, will open and close the circuit to indicate I III. The second division consists of seven breaks 8 9 10 11 12 13 14, with proper metallic intervals, 15 16 17 18 19 20; those designated 15 and 16 being equal, and, with the breaks 8 9 10, will indicate the number 3. The interval 17 is greater than the others, and separates the number 3 from the number 2, which follows. This number 2 is formed by the breaks 11 12 and interval 18. The interval 19 is the same as that of 17, so as to separate the number 2 from 0 or cipher, which follows. The cipher is made by the breaks 13 and 14 and the short interval 20, so as to open and close the circuit at short intervals,to produce two quick strokes. The two quick strokes always represent the cipher of any number7 and is an important feature in my system of signals.

The second division, as described, therefore, represents 320, the building numbered, and, in connection with the first division, will make street 13, building 320. The long metallic interval 21 separates the beginning and ending of eachseries. of numbers. The breaks and intervals which indicate the number of the street are arranged so as to make the strokes in quick succession, and those for indicating the building number in slow succession, in order to distinguish between the two. The arm G is secured to its shaft F by means of an insulating-hub, b, and revolves with it in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 2. The insulator b prevents the current from passing into the gearing, and the metal collar c2 is connected to the arm G by metal pins d, Fig. 4, and to the screw-cup H by the metallic arms e, so as to form the connection with the line. The arm G carries a spring, c, so .as to bear upon the circumference or side of the plate, and cause the breaks or non-conductors, as said arm is revolved, to open and close the circuit. Nhen at rest and ready for operation, the spring-arm cis on the metallic interval 21, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, in order that when the mechanism is set in motion,the number of the street, under this arrangement, will be first indicated. The metallic connection between the stationary brake-plate D and the screwcnp .I is made by means cfa metallic rod, K, Fig. 2, attached to said plate, and the connecting-wire f, Fig. l. Instead of the xed break-plate which I have described, a revolving break-wheel may be used for the purpose; or the revolving shaft may be constructed with both, as shown in Fig. 3, for the purpose of working an eXtra line, P2, without interfering with the regular line; or both may revolve or be iixed,and provided with springarms P, forthe purpose of opening and closing the circuit of said extra line. In using the two break-circuits, one of them, l?, is for the purpose of communicating the alarm-for eX- ample, to the residence of the owner of the building on {ire-and in this respect is a very important and advantageous addition to my apparatus. In this case one of the breakcircuits may be constructed so as to indicate the building number only through the eXtra line I. rIhis extra line may also be used for the purpose of telegraphing between residence and place of business, and for this purpose be provided with suitable keys, P, and Sounders at each end of theline. The utilization of the tire alarm for this purpose is a feature of general importance, and greatly increases its capacity for business purposes.

The mechanism which I have described is operated automatically, and the means for accomplishing this consists in the employment of any of the local fire-alarms which are put into operation by the effect of heat-such, for instance, as that patented by Alexander Ross, March 10, 1863, and owned by the subscriber, or that patented by the subscriber May 10, 1870.

The former of these devices is represented at L, Figs. 1 and 5 in Sheet No. 1; and consists of a'compound strip, g, of two different metals, and an adjustable arm, g', to complete or close the circuit by the action of heat. This instrument is located near the ceiling in the different rooms of the building, and connects with the local battery M, Fig. 1, by the wire N, through the mechanism for working the break-circuit, as described, by the wire O, which mechanism is located in the most convenient part of the building, and connected with the wires from the several rooms.

Vhen the instruments thus constructed and connected are put into the building, the heatindicator, Fig. 5, is adj usted so as to be closed whenever the heat reaches the desired degree. The mechanism which it automatically operates is adjusted so that the revolving spring c will be upon the interval 2l, for the purpose of closing the street-line, and both instru.- ments will be in readiness to communicate the alarm.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that upon the breaking out ol the tire in any apartment where the heat-alarm is placed, the

' heat.

It will be understood that the line herein described may be provided with the necessary switches, keys, Sounders, and lightning` arresters for testing and protecting said line or lines.

The wire A may enter and leave the buldings through pipes for its protection.

The apparatus for opening and closing the circuit may be kept in a box, to prevent interference, 85e., therewith, and the line A may be either a metallic circuit, or, with proper ground connections, the circuit may be completed through the earth.

Any of the well-known indicators may be placed within the local circuit embracing the heat-detecter,.for the purpose of locating the precise room in the building where the lire may have commenced to burn.

I have stated that the armature Q of the magnet Z has a continuouslyautomatic vibrating motion, derived from the automatic make and break circuit X Y of the local line O, actuated by the fire itself. This automatic motion is communicated to the lever R, which is pivoted at R2, and carries a pawl, S, and a hook or catch, T, at its'opposite end, so as to take into the teeth of a ratchet-wheel, U, on a shaft, Z2, having its bearings in the standards E, and which also carries a pinion, V, into which matches a gear-wheel, NV, on the shaft F, which carries the revolving arm G c, for operating the line A. As the lever R, therefore, is vibrated, it imparts to the said spring-arm Gc a continuously-revolving motion by means of the ratchet, pawl,and gearing just described.

Having described my invention, I claiml. A streettelegraph line or lines, A, constructed so as to enter one or more buildings, and be operated automatically through suitable mechanism by the agency of the fire itself, to produce an alarm simultaneously at diterent points within the circuit of said street-line, as described.

. 2. A street telegraph line or lines, A, constructed so as to enter one or more buildings, and be operated automatically by the agency of the tire, in such manner as to indicate by an alarm the street and the number of the building, or the latter only, in which the iire originates, simultaneously at di'erent points within the circuit of said street line or lines, as described. x

3. In combinatin with` a street-telegraph line, A, constructed and arranged to enter one or more buildings, a heatdctecter or local firealarm for closing a local circuit, and suitable mechanism operated automatically thereby,for opening and closing the circuit of said streetline, for the purpose herein described.

4. The combinationof a revolving springarm, c, and stationary break-plate D, for opening and closing the electric circuit.

5. In a mechanism for opening and closing the electric circuit of a street-telegraph line, operated automatically by a heat-detecter or local irealarm, a revolving spring-arm, c, in combination with a stationary break-plate, D, by which said circuit is opened and closed, constructed, arranged, and operated as herein described.

6. In a mechanism for automatically opening and closing the electric circuit of a streetline, the break-circuit D thereof, constructed with non-conductors or breaks, arranged in two groups, the divisions in one group separated by long intervals, and the divisions in the other by short intervals, and each group separated by a long space, so as to indicate and communicate the street and the number of the building therein at or to as many points within the circuit as may be desired.

7. In connection with a break-circuit having non conductors or breaks, and metallic inter vals for indicating numbers, the method of indicating or sounding the cipher of any number by the use of two or more short breaks and intervals, to produce short, quick signals.

8. The manner of producing a succession of interruptions of an electric circuit by means of mechanism so constructed as to produce a rotary motion on the automatic closing of an electric circuit by a heat-detecter or local realarm.

9. In combination with mechanism set in motion by the action of heat upon a local firealarm, as described, a secondary line, P2, in which the circuit is broken and closed by a revolving break-wheel, P, so as to indicate or sound the number of the street and the number of the building, or the latter only, within said line, without sounding the said alarm within the primary line A, as herein described.

10. In a mechanism for automatically opening and closing the electric circuit of a streettelegraph line, A, by means of the tire itself, the combination therewith of a fixed breakcircuit, D, and a revolving break-circuit wheel, P, or two of either, for the purpose of indicating and communicating the street and the number ofthe building thereon, one or both, to any point or points within the street-line A, and at the same time through an independent line, P2, as described.

11. In a mechanism for automatically opeug g', its local line N O, and battery M, of an ing and closing one or more street-lines, the automatic electromagnetic motor,for working combination of the continuously-vibrating arone or more break-circuits and the line A by mature Q or lever R with its pawl S and hook the action of the fire itself, as described. or catch T. one or both, armature Z, the ratch- In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my et-Wheel U, and the gearing V and W, with a hand. fixed or revolving break-circuit, D I), or both, the several parts being constructed, arranged, and operated substantially in the manner and Witnesses: for the purpose as herein described. A. E. H.l JOHNSON,

12. The combination, with a heat-detecter, T. H. UPPERMAN.

VILLIAM B. WATKINS. 

